Hawks arrests six in Bushbuckridge for alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering

The Hawks released a statement in which they announced they had arrested six suspects on December 20 on counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

According to the statement, it is alleged that between May 2019 and November 2020, Nomthandazo Delsie Khoza (41), who is the main suspect in this case according to the Hawks, was employed as an accounting clerk for the Department of Education in Bushbuckridge, and was responsible for payments to ex-employees and deceased beneficiaries.

She allegedly colluded with Error Mosibudi Makutu (45), also employed as accounting clerk at the same department, and allegedly created fraudulent beneficiaries of late employees. They allegedly channelled these payments to themselves and some of their relatives’ personal bank accounts, causing a loss of over R3m to the Department of Education.

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According to the statement, four vehicles were seized for further investigation.

The accused were charged and appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court. The bail for Khoza was set at R15 000.

Patrick Ngobeni (40) and Portia Khoza’s (44) bail was set at R5 000 each.

Makutu, Themba Confidence Khoza (42) and Musa Brandon Mathebula (43) were released on bail of R3 000 each.

The case has been postponed to March 24 for further investigations.